PH5 vs SEG-Y: Archival Data Format Comparison
PH5, clearly a better choice as an archival data format.
Comparison Category |
PH5 |
SEG-Y |
| Time series length | Essentially unlimited | 32766 samples |
| Data set archive-able with incomplete meta-data? | Yes* | No |
| Customizable gather parameters set during archiver data request? | Yes | No |
| Meta-data correctable after archiving? | Yes | No |
| Need for reprocessing or re-archiving? | Rare | Whenever meta-data change, for example shot time corrections |
| Complete data storage? | Yes | No, unless the experiment is considered an Earthscope FlexArray project |
| State of health data storage? | Yes | No |
| Tracking of archived reports? | Yes | No |
| Potential for meta-data queries? | Yes | Limited to IRIS DMC forms completed by PI |
| Ability to store instrument and datalogger responses? | Yes, in RESP file format | No |
All PH5 data sets are available from the IRIS DMC as requester-configurable SEG-Y gathers or PASSCAL SEG-Y files. The SEG-Y files are built at the time of a data request, hence the flexibility in gather parameters (start time, duration (within the limits of SEG-Y), and selected arrays for those data sets with multiple arrays.
*Note: archiving raw data without meta-data or with incomplete meta-data does not satisfy the PASSCAL Data Delivery Policy.
